Which airlines have cancelled flights?

Emirates is one the largest carriers to advise passengers that it has suspended all flights to and from the Qatari capital as of Tuesday morning, impacting those expecting to connect to the city from the airline’s hub in Dubai.

Etihad, Air Arabia and flydubai, too, have said they have halted their services to Qatar, while Gulf Air and Egyptair are expected to follow.

Some one million passengers fly in and out of the UK from Doha each year, with the city’s Hamad International Airport a popular hub for the country’s airline, Qatar Airways, but the airline said its direct flights to and from the UK would not be affected.

Qatar Airways said it had suspended flights to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. "All customers booked on affected flights will be provided with alternative options, including the option of a full refund on any unused tickets and free rebooking to the nearest alternative Qatar Airways network destination," the airline said in a statement.

From 6 June, Emirates is suspending flights to and from Doha. Affected customers should visit https://t.co/p9w3QNe00D for more information.

Which flights are not affected?

Qatar Airways' flights to other destinations are not affected.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), 794,000 passengers connected through Doha en route to the UK in 2016, with 119,000 flying direct from Doha to the UK, but the city is a much smaller hub than the likes of Dubai, used by Emirates, and Abu Dhabi, used by Etihad.

Qatar Airways has said it would not be commenting on a political situationCredit:
REMY GABALDA

Non-Gulf airlines flying to Qatar from the UK, such as British Airways, have not been affected by the row.

What do I do if my flight is cancelled?

The airlines impacted have said they will offer refunds on unused tickets and opportunities to rebook to alternative destinations. If you have booked a hotel, a villa or other accommodation independently of your travel arrangements (ie not as part of a package holiday) your contract is directly with the hotel or villa and you are responsible for any cancellation. If you can’t get there, you will have to do your best to persuade them to give you a refund or rebook for a later date – but they are not obliged to do this and you may lose money.

Am I entitled to a refund if my flight is cancelled?

Yes, if your flight is arriving or departing from a destination within the EU, so the UK but not any Gulf nations. European Union regulations require airlines to offer you either a full refund of the unused parts of your tickets, or to re-route you to your destination, as soon as possible. It may also allow you to rebook your flights for a later date at no extra cost. If EU regulations do not apply to your flights - for example, if you are flying between Dubai and Doha - then you should contact your airline.

Will there be any other impact?

Lara Brunt, Telegraph Travel’s Dubai expert, said one of the biggest problems facing Qatar is how it handles the closure of vast amounts of regional airspace, as it will no longer be able to fly over the UAE or Saudi Arabia, for example.

“Regionally, the ban will have a major impact on business travellers on the busy Dubai to Doha route,” she said.

The row also raises questions about how well placed Qatar is to support its ongoing business development and host major events such as the World Cup in 2022.